Cotton gin system



0, 1957 J. A. STREUN 2,803,044

COTTON GIN SYSTEM Filed Dec. 2, 1953 4 Sheet s-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS 8- J. A. STREUN 7 2,803,044

' COTTON GIN SYSTEM Filed Dec. 2, 195s 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I n l INVENTOR (Q) thfinfl. Siren];

ATTORNEYS Allg- 1957 J. A. STREUN 7 2,803,044

COTTON GIN SYSTEM Filed Dec. 2, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Aug. 20, 1957 J. A. STREUN COTTON GIN SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 2, 1953 INVENTOR Jofizzfl Sire a n M WWMM I ATTORNEYS United States PatentO COTTON GIN SYSTEM John A. Streun, Sherman, Tex., assignor to Hardwicke- Etter Company, Sherman, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application December 2, 1953, Serial No. 395,772

13 Claims. (Cl. 19-72) The present invention relates to a cotton ginning system and mechanisms, and particularly, such a system for handling and cleaning the lint which is discharged from the gin stands.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a gin system having a novel cleaning mechanism for the lint adjacent each gin stand, and located in surrounding relationship with respect to the common lint flue which collects and conveys the lint from the gin stands to the condenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a system wherein the lint cleaning mechanisms provide for controlled removal of substantially all of the dirt and trash from-the lint passing through the system, and the system further provides for automatic discharge of the trash and dirtso removed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such cleaning mechanisms, pneumaticallyoperated, and with adjustable control of the cleaning operation, to accommodate the system to seasonal and other variations in the product being processed.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the description herein progresses.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section,

of a gin system, showing a battery of five gins and associated cleaners, and a common lint flue leading to the condenser, tramper and press.

Figure 2 is a partial vertical sectional view showing themechanism employed at the point where the lint is removed from the condenser drum and discharged into the lint-slide.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through one of the lint cleaning mechanisms associated with a particular gin, and arranged surrounding the common lint flue.

.Figure 4 is a partial transverse vertical sectional view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 3, illustrating details of the control valves and openings, which are adjustable for varying the cleaning action exerted on the lint as it is conveyed to the lint flue.

Figure 5 is a similar transverse vertical sectional view through the lower part of a modified form of the cleaning mechanism.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken at the discharge end of the trash removing conveyor.

Figure 7 is a top elevational view of a portion of the force of the air blast or other equivalent means into the lint .flue and being pneumatically. carried by the latter- Patented Aug. 20, 1957 ice to the elevated condenser C. The condenser may be of conventional construction, comprising a rotating screen drum with air discharging from within the drum, so that a. bat of lint is collected on the screen drum, being thereafter discharged through the lint slide S to the tramper T and press W as is well known in the art.

As hereinafter described, lint is pneumatically delivered to the cleaners from their respective gin stands, and during passage through the cleaners, dirt and trash are removed from the lint, the lint thereafter entering the section of the lint flue which passes through each cleaner. Extending throughout and beneath the cleaners is a suitable conveyor, such as a power driven moving belt or screw conveyor, and this conveyor carries the dirt and trash from the cleaners to a suitable point of discharge, likewise as hereinafter described.

Referring to Figure 3, the lint cleaner for each gin stand comprises an airtight casing having a central substantially circular passage 10, forming a part of the lint flue L, the said passage being defined by a wall 12 which is substantially cylindrical from the point 14 to about the point 16, the said wall having an outwardly flaring eccentric inlet portion 18 at the top of the cleaner, which in turn forms the inner wall of the entrant portion 20 of a closed lint cleaning passage S which surrounds that section of the lint flue which passes through the cleaner.

The cleaner further comprises an outer wall 22 which is spaced from the inner wall 12, to thereby define the closed curved cleaning passage S. The wall 22 has an outwardly flaring portion 24 at the top of the cleaner, which generally parallels the portion 18 of the inner wall to thus define the entrant section 20 of the passage S, eccentrically arranged with respect to that portion of the lint flue which passes through the cleaner.

It will be understood that each cleaner has end walls 28, which are closed except as they are penetrated by the sections of the common lint flue L which passes through the cleaners, and the curved Walls 12, 18, 22 and 24 extend throughout the length of the cleaner and are suitably secured in airtight contact, as by welding, with the opposite end walls 28 of each cleaner.

There is also an outermost or covering wall 38, forming a part of the cleaner casing and sealed to and extending between the end walls 28 thereof, this outermost wall being spaced from the walls 22 and 24 to form a trash compartment T. The lower portions 32 and 34 of this outermost wall taper downwardly and into, and are supported upon a frame structure F through which passes the common trash removing conveyor R, as hereinafter described.

The structure described thus forms, in the cleaner, a central longitudinal passage 10 which is a part of the common lint flue of the system, a surrounding lint cleaning passage S comprising a section concentric to the passage 10 and an eccentric entrant portion 20, and an outer trash compartment T, it being .noted that the passage S extends substantially 360 around the central lint flue portion of the cleaner, and is entirely isolated therefrom except at its inner end 14, where the said passage opens into the central passage 10 of the cleaner.

Still referring to Figure 3, a lint duct 36 leading from the gin stand connects with a pipe section 38 which is arranged tangentially with respect to the outer casing wall 22. The pipe section 38 connects with the wall portions 18 and 24, to thus convey the lint from the gin stands into the entrant section 20 of the lint cleaning passage S. A by-pass opening through the wall 22 is is normally closed by a flap valve 40, which, like the curved wall sections, extends entirely throughout the length of the cleaner between its end Walls 28. When the flap A valve 40 is in its closed position, as shown in full lines in Figure 3, the lint from a gin enters through the pipe 38, and passes entirely around the lint flue through the closed passage S, discharging into the central passage 19 of the cleaner at the point 14' where the circular portion of the wall 12 terminates. A portion of the outer wall 22, preferably on the side of the cleaner opposite its inlet, consists of a foraminous screen 42, such as a plate of perforated expanded metal, whereby when the blast of lint laden air is caused to rapidly move around through the passage S, dirt and trash in the lint are discharged by centrifugal force through the screen 42 into the trash compartment T.

Located in the lower part of the trash compartment, and extending throughout the entire battery of gins, is a suction pipe 44 having a bottom longitudinal slot or suction opening 46 therein. By means hereinafter de scribed, controlled suction is maintained within the pipe 44, thus drawing air from the sealed cleaner housing inwardly through the slot opening 46 in the suction pipe, whereby down draft is created in the trash compartment to carry the trash which is removed from the lint through the screen 42, downwardly onto the trash and dirt removing conveyor R.

It will be understood that when the gin system is in operation, a forced draft of air will be generated acting from the gin stands (as from the air blast lint removing means thereof), which tends to blow the lint through the passage S and into and through the common lint flue L. The force of this blast, moving toward the condenser C, where the air is released from the system as is well known in the art, acts in the cleaning passage to cause dirt and trash to pass through the openings in the screen 42, the size of the particles being thus removed depending on the mesh of the screen. The regulated suction in the suction pipe 44 is still another force which acts to draw the trash from the lint through the screen 42. As hereinafter described, the fan employed to draw air from the screen drum in the condenser C, whose speed may be adjusted, is still another controlled force to assist in the cleaning action previously referred to.

In order to provide for the removal of heavier trash, larger openings 48 and 49 may be provided in the outer Wall 22 of the cleaning passage S. As best shown in Figure 4, a portion 50 of the wall 22 is suitably mounted on the end plates of the cleaner, for adjustable circular sliding movement between spaced plates 52, 54, which likewise form a part of the wall 22. The wall portion Ed has secured thereto a suitable bracket 56 with slots 58 therein, the bracket being thus slidably mounted on adjustable securing bolts 66) passing through each end wall of the cleaner casing. Upon suitably loosening the bolt assembiy 6d, the plate 56 may be telescoped in the slot between the plates and 54, to adjust the circular amplitude of the openings 48 and 48 in the wall 22.

The remaining portion of the opening 48 and 4-9 may be controlled, respectively, by pivoted valves 62 and 63 which extend between the end walls of the cleaner casing and are fixed for rotation on shafts 64 which also extend between the end walls of the cleaner casing. On the outer wall of the casing, at one end thereof, there are valve handles 66 which are fixed to the shaft 64. These handles are arranged to engage circular notched friction racks 68 which will hold the handies 66 in adjusted positions. Accordingly, the handles 66 may be manipulated to turn the shaft 64, and thereby adjust the valves 62 and 63 from positions parallel to the wall 22, to various other selected positions extending inwardly of the said wall and over the openings 43 and 49 therein, for instance, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4.

With the openings arranged as shown in Figure 4, and with the valves 62 and 63 properly adjusted therein, the said valves will form beater bumpers to engage and discharge trash from the moving lint, the said valves acting as adjustable whipping boards and as baffles to divert any larger pieces of trash sliding downwardly from the screen 42 through the opening 48 into the trash compartment. It will be noted that other baffles 70 are arranged in the trash compartment over the suction conduit 44, to divert the trash downwardly into the conveyor R.

It will be understood that the means for providing openings of regulated or adjustable size, in the outer wall of the lint cleaning passage, may take other forms than those illustrated in the drawings. Any other suitable means may be employed to provide openings, and adjustable means for controlling the said openings, but it will be understood that very effective control of the cleaning action is provided by the arrangement disclosed, where the action of the valves 62 and 63 may be varied by selectively adjusting them inwardly toward the rapidly moving current of lint laden air which traverses the cleaning passage S.

Various openings may be provided throughout the mechanism, as shown, for access to the interior parts thereof. In Figure 3 I show an arrangement wherein a hinged door 72 is provided, the same constituting a cir-' cular portion of the trash compartment T, and having as its inner wall the screen 42 and as its outer wall a section of the outermost casing 30. This door has a lower end hinged at 74, and an upper end 76 which may be provided with suitable mechanism to latch the door closed when the system is in operation. Throughout the structure of the cleaner, it will be understood that all of these parts as referred to, are designed for airtight sealing relationship with respect to one another, in order to maintain an adequately sealed system, as is well understood in this art. Accordingly, no attempt is made to fully describe the details of the structure which mainltains the necessary sealed relationship between such parts.

Still referring to Figure 3, it will be understood that any suitable means may be provided for operating the inlet valve 40. As shown, this valve is fixed for pivotal movement upon a shaft '78 which extends between the end walls of the casing, and the shaft has connected thereto, outside the end wall of the casing, an arm of a bell crank 80 which is in turn pivoted to operating pull lever 82. The lever 82 is supported in any suitable type of bracket 84 on the outer wall of the cleaner casing, and has a handle 86 which may be moved outwardly and inwardly to change the position of the valve. The other arm of the bell crank 80 is pivoted as at 88 to a rod 90, the outer end of which is adjustably carried in a sleeve 92 which is pivoted on a bracket on the exterior wall of the easing. There is a spring on the rod 90, compressed between a fixed shoulder thereon and the inner end of the sleeve 92, whereby the arrangement described acts as a toggle to rapidly move and firmly maintain the flap valve 40 in either of its positions. The two positions of the valve are illustrated, the full line position of the valve being that to which it is adjusted to expose the cleaning passage, and the dotted line position of the valve being that to which it is adjusted when it is desired to by-pass the cleaner and cause the lint to directly enter the lint flue.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be understood that there is a suction conduit 44 extending through the trash com partment of each cleaner, and each such conduit has an upwardly directed extension liltlconnected therewith beyond the end wall of the casing, which extensions each join an expanding longitudinally extending suction pipe 102 which is common to all of the cleaners. Beyond that end portion 104 of the conduit 102 which is indicated in Figure 1, there is a suitable suction fan (not shown) which is power driven, in a manner known in the art, and adjustable in speed to regulate the intensity of the suction exerted in each of the cleaners through the openings 46 in the portions of'the suction conduits located therein. In the extensions of the suction conduits, at each cleaner, there are suitable slide valves 106, each of which may be adjusted selectively between open and closed positions to establish a desired intensity ofthe Suction. By reason of these slide valves, each cleaner may be individually controlled, as to the intensity of the cleaning action, and such adjustment is quite important in order to arrange the system in properly balanced condition for the overall control of the system.

Referring to Figure 3, the trash removing conveyor comprises an endless belt 108 which moves through a longitudinal well which is common to the entire battery of cleaners. The belt 108 moves along and is supported by a fixed plate 110, extending throughout the length of the conveyor well. As shown in Figure 1, the common conveyor extends beneath all of the cleaners, the endless belt 108 being supported on the rollers 112 and 114. The belt is power driven by any suitable means.

The discharge end of the trash conveyor is shown in Figure 6, there being a power driven brush 116 provided to sweep the trash upwardly from the belt, the trash being removed from this end of the conveyor, which comprises an airtight enclosure, by the suction within a trash removing tube 118 which joins with the common suction conduit 102 as shown in Figure 1. The tube 118 may be provided with an adjustable slide valve 120, to regulate the intensity of the trash removing suction, as Will beevident from the previous description.

The trash is pressed downwardly upon the conveyor belt 108, as it moves along the same, by spaced rollers 121 suitably mounted for turning movement in the conveyor structure. One of these rollers is shown in Figure 6, at the end of the conveyor, and it will be observed in Figure 1, that similar rollers are provided in the open space between each of the cleaners. These rollers serve to form an airtight seal between each section of the system. Each roller is sealed at its upper end, by contact with a flexible rubber valve plate 122 which forms a part of a pivoted door 124 which may also be used to gain access to the conveyor housing for cleaning purposes.

Again referring to Figure 1, the lint flue terminates at its discharge end in the usual riser E leading to .the condenser C. The condenser C is provided with a power driven screen drum 130 as is well known in the art, there being a fan 132 mounted in an opening134 at the end of the condenser housing to withdraw air from the system within the screen drum 134, whereby a. bat of the lint is formed on the periphery of the drum, likewise as is well known in the art. The fan may be regulated in speed, to insure the formation of the proper even bat of lint on the drum.

Referring to Figure 2, two dotting rollers 132 and 134 are provided, for removing the bat from the screen drum and dropping it into the lint slide S. The condenser is kept sealed throughout, as by the flexible lips 136 and 138 which contact the dofling rollers, and by the sealing roller 140 and the associated lip 142.

In Figure I have disclosed a modified arrangement for forming cleaning openings in the outer wall of the circular passage of the cleaner. In the lower portion of the wall 22, I have provided suitable openings at 144, 146 and 148. In these openings are adjustably mounted grate bar assemblies, comprising end brackets 150 with pairs of slots 152 and 154 therein, the said slots being arranged to receive pins 156 carriedon the inner sides of the end walls of the cleaner casing. The brackets carry spaced grate bars 158 which extend throughout the length of the cleaner, between the brackets. It will be noted that the slot 154 is arranged in a non-radial manner, so that the brackets may not only be adjusted ingraph. For instance,the grate bars.158 could be.other Wise suitably mounted for adjustment, as'to their angulari ty with relation to the flow of lint laden air through the cleaning passage, and other suitable arrangements 7 might be provided for adjusting the grate bars inwardly and outwardly with respectto the passage. p Referring to Figure l, it will be noted the first cleaner in the battery C has a closed conical structure 160 centhe cleaner.

cleaner, so that the blast of air from the first gin stand to the lint flue will be suflicient to properly carrythe lint away from the closed end of the lint flue.

It will also be noted in Figure 1 that a baflle 162 is provided in the lint flue adjacentthe riser E, to facilitate the upward flow of the lint toward the condenser. In operation of the system, the lint is forced by the .blast of air from each gin stand through lint ducts 36,

38 (Figure 3) past the valve 40 and into the end of the cleaning passage S. The cleaning passage directs the lint in circular or whirling motion against and along the expanded metal screen 42, and the blast from the gins is aided by the suction exerted by the suction pipe 44 to wash the lint along the screen, dirt and particles in the lint being thrown by centrifugal force through the openings in the screen, into the trash compartment. It will be understood that the lint laden air is concentrated and contained between the walls of the cleaning passage as it passes by the cleaning screen. A suitable suction fan attached to the end 104 of the common suction duct 102, draws air through the pipes at each cleaner, this suction being regulated by the adjustment of the respective side valves 106. This suction assists in the cleaning action, and causes'the trash to slide downwardly to the trash conveying belt 108. The trash is conveyed along the belt, from left to right of Figure 1, and is removed by suction from the closed end cabinet structure of the trash conveyor assembly, as shown in Figure 6, 1 through the suction conduit 118. As stated, the intensity The number of lint cleaners used depends on the number of gins, and the battery thereof may consist of, for

instance, from 1 to 6 units. There is a controlled suction in the trash compartment outwardly of the screen and 1 the other'cleaning openings described. The suctionexerts a light pull on the screen, to cause dust and trash to pass through the screen, offsetting to a degree the pull exerted by the moving stream of lint through the clean ing passage. The suction conduit 44 runs the full length of each cleaner, as it does its suction slot 46. The slot is located in the bottom of the suction pipe, so that the air is moved downwardly to the vicinity of the trash conveyor, before it escapes into the suction conduit 44.

As the air turns acutely at the bottom of the trash cornpartment to enter the suction conduit 44, there is a tendency to throw 01f the heavy trash so that it will slide downwardly onto the belt 108. The degree of the downward suction pull can be regulated at each cleaner,

by the adjustment of the slide valves 106. The door 72 may be swung open for access to the interior of the cleaning passage and to the interior of the lint flue.

The lint travels through the cleaning passage S as indicated by the arrows, traveling in a whirl at such speed as to provide for dirt and trash removal through the openings in the outer wall of the passage, by centrifugal force. A 30" suction fan on the end of the suction conduit 102, with means for regulating the speed and rotation of the fan, together with the adjustable slide valves 106, provide for control of the suction exerted in the individual cleaners to aid in the cleaning operation. Any suitable means is provided for driving the trash belt 108 to convey the trash to the vertical 7" suction pipe 118.

The valves 62 and 63 can be adjusted so that their ends are substantially parallel with the outer wall of the cleaning passage, or the lips of the valves may be adjusted upwardly to form bumpers for the trash, to dislodge trash from the moving lint and direct it downwardly to the trash conveyor. The remaining lint and air passes on through the passage S, entering the central passage 10 of the lint flue generally as indicated by the arrows in Figure 3, and the lint laden air then passes onwardly through to the next cleaner, where it is joined by streams of lint laden air from the next gin stand, the latter having been cleaned or processed as previously described. The openings 48 and 49 adjacent to the valves 62 and 63 can be widened or narrowed to properly release trash through the openings, while permitting the lint to pass on through the cleaning passage to the interior of the lint flue. The valves are adjusted and locked to maintain the same and the openings in a set position of size to suit the occasion, and to obtain the best cleaning action.

Various combinations of cleaning openings may be em ployed. In Figure 3, I show the use of the screen 42 and the valve controlled openings 48 and 49, but the grid bars of Figure may be substituted for the valves and openings of Figure 3. Similarly, an arrangement of grid bars might be employed in substitution for the screen 42.

It will be understood that each cleaning unit, and its connecting and other conduits, are substantially as wide as the particular gin with which it is associated. The duct 36 and passages through the cleaner are substantially rectangular in cross-section, and of a length substantially as wide as the gin, aswill be understood by those skilledin the. art. Several of the valves 62, 63 may be employed, and may be. adjusted to different amplitudes of entry into the passage S, and the openings 48 and 49 may be adjusted in Width, as described, in a manner to obtain the best cleaning action on any given occasion.

In an ordinary design of the system, the lint flue is 33 /2" in diameter. At the first cleaner, the pointed cone reduces the effective diameter of the lint flue thus insuring that there will be sufiicient movement of air at the first gin to carry the lint away from the closed end of the lint flue. Without the use of this cone, at least in some systems, there is a tendency for the lint at the first cleaner to be sluggish in its movement toward the second cleaner, and the cone serves to speed up the movement of thelint laden air. I

In general, the design of the system is such that the velocity of the lint laden air through the system is maintained constant. At each cleaner, the outlet area of the lint flue is much greater than the inlet area of the rectangular pipe sections 36 and 38 (a ratio of about 4 to 1), but at the end of a battery of four gins, the total inlet area for the lint will be about equal to the outlet area in the lint fine, from the fourth cleaner of the battery.

The lint thus cleaned is baffied upwardly through the riser E to the condenser C. The condenser has a large screened drum therein, power driven in the direction indicated (Figure 2), md the lint from all of the cleaners is carried to this screened drum, where it is caused to form into a bat onto the moving drum. The bat is dotted from the screen as shown, and as is well known in the art, and falls through the lint slide to the tramper and press.

Because the bat of lint on the screen drum in the condenser may be lumpy and unevenly spread in some instances, thesuction fan 132 located at the discharge end of the screen drum is provided, as is likewise well known in the art, and the. suction from this fan aids in forming,

a smooth bat over the surface of the screened drum, and it also aids to pull the air from the cleaners. The speed of this fan is adjustable, and is a factor in governing the speed of travel of the lint toward the condenser, and the density and smoothness of the bat formed on the screened drum may be controlled by varying the speed of this fan. The fan 132 aids the action of the air blast at the gin stands, in moving the lint through the system, and also serves to draw dust and fine trash through the screen of the rotating drum in the condenser, to further clean the lint. I find that a speed of from 700 to 750 R. P. M. for this fan is suflicient to form a good bat.

It will be apparent that I have provided a system wherein a lint cleaner is conveniently positioned adjacent each gin stand, and to clean the lint as it is delivered to the lint flue. The system provides for numerous adjustments and settings, depending on local and seasonal conditions, to best accommodate the system to the condition of the cotton being processed. The intensity of the cleaning action may be increased or decreased as desired, and various settings of the elements described may be employed to control the overall operation.

In a representative system, the air blast pressure on each gin stand may be from 13 /2 to 14 of Water. The first valve control opening 48 in the cleaning passage (Figure 3) may be 1%" in width and the second opening 49 may be 1% in Width. The second valve 63 may be directed to a slightly greater extent into the cleaning passage than the first valve 62 (likewise referring to Figure 3). Slide valves 106 of each cleaner may be separately adjusted. For instance, such adjustments may be as follows: Cleaner C to provide a 1" opening; cleaner C to provide a 1%" opening; cleaner C to provide a 2" opening; cleaner C to provide a 2 /2" opening, and cleaner C to provide a 3" opening. The slide valve in the suction conduit 118 may be adjusted to provide a 7" opening. The exhaust fan 132 at the condenser may be 46 in diameter for a system of three or four gin stands, and 54" in diameter for a system of five gin stands. This fan may be driven at a speed of from 700 to 750 R. P. M., as stated. The slide valves 106 are important in the control of the cleaning action. To increase the cleaning action,

the slide valves may be opened to approximately 1" more than as listed above. If any substantial loss of lint in the cleaning action is apparent, these slide valves may be adjusted toward closed positions.

It will be obvious that I have provided a cleaning system of great flexibility, to rapidly and effectively clean the lint as it moves from the gin stands to the condenser.

I claim:

1. In lint cleaning apparatus of the character described, a casing having a section of a lint flue therein comprising a substantially circular inner wall, a curved outer wall extending around said inner wall and spaced therefrom defining a substantially circular cleaning passage extending for a distance around and separated from said lint flue section, said passage having an inlet at one end thereof to receive the blast of lint laden air and a lint outlet at the other end thereof which opens into the interior of said flue through the wall thereof, a screen in said outer wall comprising openings to pass trash and the like through said outer wall by the centrifugal forces generated during the passage of the lint through said circular cleaning passage, a trash compartment located outwardly of said screen, and a lint flue extension connected with said lint flue section to convey the cleaned lint from the cleaner.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein said outer wall is provided with an adjustable opening to pass trash from the lint laden air in said cleaning passage into said trash compartment. 7

3. A construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein said outer wall is provided with an opening and an adjustable bafile positioned adjacent thereto to divert trash 9 from the lint laden air in said cleaning passage into said trash compartment.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein said trash compartment is provided with a suction conduit to facilitate the cleaning action of said screen.

5. A construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein a valve is provided adjacent the inlet of said cleaning passage to selectively direct the lint laden air through said passage or directly into the lint flue.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein a conveyor is provided tbeneath said casing and traversing said trash compartment to carry the trash therefrom.

7. A construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein a circular baflie of decreasing diameter in the direction of flow of the lint laden air is positioned within said lint flue section to facilitate the flow of lint laden air therefrom.

8. A lint system for a battery of gin stands comprising a common lint flue for the gin stands leading to a condenser, and lint cleaners for each gin stand, said lint Oleaners comprising a substantially circular cleaning passage extending around and separated from the interior of the lint flue throughout a substantial portion of its length,.

said passage having a curved outer wall with cleaning Openings therein, the said passage having an outlet connecting with the interior of the lint flue through the Wall thereof and inlet which is arranged to deliver lint laden air substantially tangentially to the curved outer wall of said passage, said lint cleaners being further provided with a trash compartment located outwardly of said passage to receive foreign matter passing through said cleaning openings, and lint conduits connecting with said inlets of said cleaners to deliver lint thereto with the blast of air from the gins.

9. A construction in accordance with claim 8, wherein the trash compartments of said cleaners are connected with a common suction pipe to facilitate the cleaning action of the cleaning openings of said cleaners.

10. A construction in accordance with claim 8, wherein said system is provided with a suction conduit common to said cleaners and wherein each cleaner is provided with a suction pipe connecting its trash compartment with said common suction conduit and a valve therein to individually control suction in said trash compartments to regulate the cleaning action of the cleaning openings of said cleaners.

11. A construction in accordance With claim 8, wherein the trash compartments of said cleaners are connected with a common trash conveyor to carry away trash from the system.

12. Lint conveying apparatus for a battery of gins comprising a common lint flue extending along the gins, means for driving a main stream of lint laden air longitudinally through said lint flue, means forming a closed circular passage with and around said lint flue at one of the gins of the battery, said passage having an inlet connected with a lint conduit extending from said gin and an outlet connecting with the interior of said Lint flue, said means providing for the movement of a smaller stream of lint laden air from the gin laterally around said lint flue through said passage to thereafter join the main stream of lint laden air in said lint flue.

13. A construction in accordance with claim 12, wherein said passage has an outer wall with cleaning openings therein to discharge trash from the stream of lint laden air as it traverses said passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 325,521 Finch Sept. 1, 1895 661,086 Stebbins Nov. 6, 1900 2,001,223 Streun May 14, 1935 2,669,755 Day Feb. 23, 1954 2,681,476 Van Doorn June 22, 1954 2,681,477 Van Doorn June 22, 1954 

